Average and peak flows
State average daily flow, peak hourly flow, operating hours and seasonal variation. Identify batch discharges and unusual peak events.
ENGINEERING GUIDE
How to specify a modular wastewater treatment plant.
A practical starting point for owners, consultants and EPC contractors: establish the water, the required result and the site conditions before selecting the plant configuration.
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01 / DESIGN BASIS
Specify the treatment duty first.
A modular plant is a way of constructing and delivering a treatment system. It does not, by itself, determine the treatment process. For a FAST-based plant, the process selection, equipment and compartment arrangement follow the project design basis.
Start with the application: domestic sewage, municipal wastewater, industrial effluent or a mixed stream. Identify intermittent discharges, cleaning chemicals and any upstream treatment. Industrial streams may need dedicated pretreatment before biological treatment is considered.
02 / CAPACITY
Provide a flow profile, not just one number.
Minimum load and future capacity
Define startup occupancy, minimum operating flow, expected growth and the planned expansion stages. These affect train sizing and operating flexibility.
Use consistent units. Converting an hourly flow to daily throughput requires the actual operating hours. Peak hydraulic capacity and average daily treatment capacity are different design requirements.
03 / WATER QUALITY
Describe what enters and what must leave.
| Design input | Information to provide | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Influent characteristics | BOD, COD, TSS, nitrogen, phosphorus, pH, temperature and salinity | Defines treatment duties and helps assess process suitability. |
| Application-specific contaminants | Oil and grease, cleaning chemicals and other relevant industrial constituents | Identifies pretreatment needs and possible process constraints. |
| Discharge or reuse target | The applicable approved limits, sampling basis and intended reuse | Defines the treatment stages, polishing and disinfection duty. |
| Variability | Representative analyses, ranges and known production or seasonal changes | Supports a design that reflects actual operating conditions. |
Provide the authority or client specification rather than assuming one universal effluent standard. Clarification and filtration duties, such as lake-water treatment, should be assessed on their own requirements and should not automatically be treated as biological sewage applications.
04 / PROCESS SELECTION
Choose a configuration around the target.
A/O, A²/O, MBBR, MBR, SBR and BAF are among the configurations that can be integrated into a FAST-based plant. Selection considers wastewater characteristics, required effluent quality, available space, operating capability and lifecycle requirements.
- Receive and prepare: screening, grit removal and equalization as required.
- Treat: selected biological or physical-chemical stages.
- Separate: solids separation suited to the selected process.
- Finish: polishing and disinfection where needed for discharge or reuse.
- Manage residuals: define sludge storage, handling and removal responsibilities.
05 / SITE & DELIVERY
Design the plant around its location.
Space and access
Provide the plot, levels, transport limits, lifting access and maintenance routes. A compact footprint still needs safe access to equipment and service points.
Utilities and interfaces
Identify electrical supply, drainage, inlet and outlet elevations, discharge location, control interfaces and any standby-power requirements.
Materials and assembly
Confirm exposure and wastewater chemistry before selecting SS304, SS316 or coated carbon steel. Bolted or welded site assembly follows the project design.
Operation and resilience
Agree operator availability, redundancy requirements, spare equipment, phased expansion and how maintenance will be accommodated.
06 / COMPARING PROPOSALS
Compare the same scope.
Compare offers against the same flow basis, influent envelope, effluent target and redundancy requirements. Identify whether foundations, buildings, interconnecting piping, power supply, sludge handling, site works and commissioning are included.
Construction time, footprint and operating energy depend on the selected process and project boundaries. Request a project-specific comparison, including what is included in the baseline and what assumptions drive the estimate.
YOUR ENQUIRY CHECKLIST
Send a useful starting package.
- Project location, application and delivery programme.
- Average, peak and minimum flows, operating hours and future demand.
- Representative water analysis and known variations.
- Required discharge or reuse quality.
- Plot, levels, available utilities and access constraints.
- Required supply, installation, commissioning and operation scope.
You can start an enquiry with the information currently available. Identify the missing inputs so the design basis can be developed explicitly.
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Define the next step.
Share your application, capacity, water analysis and project scope. We will help define the appropriate treatment approach.
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